Turning Points of World War 2

Turning Points of WWII: Battle of Midway, Battle of Britain, and Battle of Stalingrad

There were many significant turning points in World War II, within which, had they not happened as they did, the outcome of World War itself could, arguably, have been much different

In particular, many of the key battles fought during World War II; between the Americans and the Japanese; Germany and North Africa; Germany and England; Germany and Russia, or elsewhere, could arguably be considered the three most significant. Some of these would including the Battle of Kursk; the Battle of El Alemain; and the Battle of Moscow

However, it is my opinion that the three major turning points of World War II, which played the biggest roles in the war's turning out as it did, were: (1) The Battle of Midway; (2) the Battle of Britain, and (3) the Battle of Stalingrad. In this essay, I will analyze these three key battles, and their importance to the outcome of World War II.

The first of the three key turning points was the Battle of Midway

. If not for the Battle of Midway, which took place at Midway Island in the Pacific Ocean, the United States likely would not have been able to stave off the encroaching Japanese. According to "Battle of Midway," this battle:

represents the strategic high water mark of Japan's Pacific Ocean war. Prior to this action, Japan possessed general naval superiority over the United States and could usually choose where and when to attack. After Midway, the two opposing fleets were essentially equals, and the United States soon took the offensive

.The Japanese never resumed the offensive after Midway. This defeat also substantially lessened their morale. According to "Battle of Midway June 4-7 1942:

The Japanese had enjoyed some success in their attacks on the Aleutians, but at Midway they met disaster . . . they were depending on a surprise attack as they had at Pearl Harbor six months before. What they did not know was that American cryptologists had broken their naval codes. . . Nimitz was able to turn the tables and surprise the Japanese fleet

The Battle of Britain was a second major turning point, because on the Western Front, the Luftwaffe's inability to vanquish the British Royal Air Force (RAF), in the Battle of Britain, made it impossible for the Germans to gain control of the English Channel

. It is often said, about the Battle of Britain, that "never in the field of human conflict was so much owed, by so many, to so few"

. According to Dr. Chris Bellamy: "It is widely believed that had the Germans succeeded in their aim of destroying the RAF, they would have been able to invade Britain relatively easily"

. According to "Battle of Britain":

The Battle of Britain was an air battle between the German Luftwaffe and the British Royal Air Force (July 10, 1940-May 10, 1941), in which the RAF saved

Britain from invasion and dealt Germany its first major defeat in World War II.

As Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, in a speech to the House of Commons before the Battle of Britain began: "Upon this battle . . . depends . . . our institutions and our Empire. . . . If we fail, then the whole world, including the United States . . . will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age . . .

" According to Wikipedia, "the Battle of Britain was the first major battle to be fought entirely in the air"

. To conquer England, Hitler planned an invasion, which would be preceded by intensive aerial attacks by the Luftwaffe intended to destroy the Royal Air Force (RAF) and gain air superiority

.Results of the Battle of Britain told Hitler that the Germans would not in fact be able to achieve their much hoped-for air superiority over Southern England and therefore could not invade a naval force so much larger than theirs

. If Germany had perhaps focused its efforts more on British airfields, not cities, as it did instead, Britain's air force could have been decimated by the Germans, therefore leaving England completely helpless from the air